Watch List notes:

ROMAN COINS

Hostilian, as Caesar, 250-251. Aureus (Gold, 19mm, 4.17 g 1), Rome, c. 251. C VALENS HOSTIL MES QVINTVS N C Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Hostilian to right. Rev. PRINCIPI IVVENTVTIS Prince standing left, holding standard in his right hand and spear in his left. Calicó 3316. Cohen 33. RIC 181b. UBS 50, 2001, 3 = Gemini IX, 2012, 517 (same obverse die). Very rare. A lovely example with an elegant portrait. Extremely fine.

Hostilian was the younger son of Trajan Decius and stayed in Rome when his father and older brother went off on their ill-fated expedition against the Goths. After their deaths the field army acclaimed Trebonianus Gallus as emperor, but in a laudable attempt to avoid civil strife he immediately recognized Hostilian as his co-emperor. However, later in the year Hostilian fell ill and died from the plague. The coin was struck earlier, while he was only Caesar under his father, and is an unusually nice example.